As with most anything great, we here at High Heels + Hi-Tops are sad to announce the wrap of our beloved time here at WordPress.

Since day one we’ve taken the position of tastemaker seriously and respectfully and hope that you, our loyal readers, have come away with a more enriched palette and a little extra soul in your heart. I know at times we (especially myself) may’ve been a touch heavy handed with the criticism and words, but at the end of the day, the goal was to be honest, not impartial and I hope that’s something you embraced.

However, with all that said, like the beloved Mr. Jordan pictured above, we at HHHT won’t be leaving cyberspace for good, but merely trading uniforms. Due to ever growing responsibilities in all of our lives, we don’t feel its fair to you, the reader, to keep showing up to an un-updated blog as regularly as you have for the past 2 months and thus the reason for our new address on both your favorite time consumer and mine, FACEBOOK.

It has been more than a minute. A big super-strong-stupid-phat shout out to my man LEO37. Quite a massive individual who has been single-handedly holding down the posts for the last 6 months or so. Im gonna stop before this starts sounding like a man-crush. Anyways, I’m jumping back in, so me and Triple can give you that one-two punch of musical treats for all the good childrens.

With only one day left until the Canadian Government stops matching private donations in the Haiti Earthquake Relief Effort, I ask you, loyal HHHT readers and lovers to please head on over to the PPF Neighborhood and donate now. This project, in conjunction with MSF (a.k.a. Doctors without Borders) and support from the CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation) is a 14-track album featuring artists from around the world playing everything from Underground Hip-Hop to Latin Jazz, Ambient Electronica to Folk. Accompanying the audio is also a 13-page PDF booklet featuring art from award winning painters, illustrators, animators and designers.

As a follow-up to their hugely entertaining 10-pages ofJay-Z disses, Complex Mag, also responsible for those awesome soundboards as well as getting Keri Hilson to take those wonderful pics brings you 7 pages of emcees dissing Jay-Z back. Everyone from Nas to Prodigy, Fat Joe to Jim Jones, it’s allll there. Click the image below for the whole shebangabang.

*BONUS*

And finally, as an added bonus, a treat from one of the illest to ever do it.

It’s been a long time coming, but I present to you part 2 of the Give the Drummer Some series.

DOOM

I don’t know that I really have anymore to say about this guy that isn’t already known. Through his unorthodox lyrics, unrelenting cadences and undying love for sampling your favorite Saturday morning cartoon theme songs, he’s managed to stay in peoples ears and mouths for so long and so consistently that he is to hip-hop what the hum of the refrigerator is to your daily white noise intake — I hope that makes sense. In other words, hip-hop without DOOM would just be down right weird.

Now DOOMposter scandal aside, he’s managed to consistently release quality records at a feverish pace and even when some fans (myself included) were starting to get sick of the formula, he came and hit back with ‘Born Like This’ which on the surface seemed like standard DOOM, but somehow managed to be far meatier than anything he’d released in quite some time — at least that’s how I felt. Now, with another brand new release entitled ‘Unexpected Guests’, DOOM’s back and DOOM’ish as ever. Check the album teaser above, and check the MPFree below. Regardless of who you are or where you’re from, there’s bound to be one DOOM song somewhere out there that you love. I know it.

From the time I heard Final Frontierw/ Blueprint back in ’02 (off Deadringer) to getting my heart broken by ‘Making Days Longer’ in ’04 (off Since We Last Spoke) to the jarring direction he took with the entire ‘The Third Hand’ albumin ’07, I’ve been happy with what RJ has provided me as a fan.

He’s somehow managed the extremely difficult task of taking himself out of the box that he was so quickly thrown in after Deadringer’s unexpected success and, although may not be as popular as he was when he first dropped, has continued to work very hard at reinventing himself every time he resurfaces, even if that means pissing off the same people that pay his mortgage.

Now, after a 3 year hiatus, the ex-Def Jukie and ex-XL recording artist is back with his own label and preparing the release of his 4th full-length studio album entitled ‘The Colossus’. HHHT is proud to bring you the first leak off the record and I must say, I enjoy it quite a bit. Whaddyou think?

Beginning with Cello lessons at 3, chamber groups at 11, then bass at 13, Sunclef is not your average hip-hop producer. A man who is generally light with words, but extremely heavy with mood and vibe, the bio on his website says it all: ‘A wise man once said “Less bunk, more funk.”‘ And really, that’s him in a nutshell. But even beyond that, what he brings to the table that most other hip-hop producers don’t (but really should) is musicianship. An understanding of music spanning genres and eras that only lend to his ability of being able to adapt, adjust and create something original while still being familiar. That, coupled with an almost detrimental necessity for improvement and you have PPF House‘s resident monster.

Having had the opportunity to work with him first hand, I can tell you that few people hear the way he does or has as good a natural instinct. On top of being a dope producer, he’s also a talented studio engineer, graphic designer and just a generally dope guy to be around. He’s currently working on several projects with several different artists from all genres and 2010 promises to be an eventful year for this studio rat.

Combining elements of DJ Quik’s funk, Dilla’s mid 90’s jazz sensibilities and a love of all things that bounce, ladies and gentlemen, I give you….Sunclef.

Check out his most recent release from earlier this year as well as his MySpace that has a small collection of old and new.

Today is all about clapping. Whether it be AK’s or appendages is up to you, just make sure it’s out of joy.

LIFE IS BETTER

After finally releasing the super duper illness known as Kamaal the Abstract. The man Kamaal Fareed, better known as Q-Tip, has just released a new single (and arguably my favorite tuneoff his previous album this year the Renaissance) entitled Life is Better. Although on paper the content may seem a bit ‘been there, done that’ish, Q-Tip, accompanied by one of the most soothing vocal qualities of the past quarter-century, Norah Jones, somehow still manage to make it feel fresh. Or maybe that’s just my opinion.

Either way, this tune is bomb.

**Bonus**

Following along the same content lines are 2 underground legends: Del the Funky Homosapien and Tame One(who are also Ice Cube’s and Redman’s cousins respectively) who are gearing up for their upcoming duo album, Parallel Uni-Verses . The song isn’t near as compelling as it could be, but Del is still a monster.

Del the Funky Homosapien & Tame One – Flashback

FOREVER

First you heard it. Now you get to see it.

The ‘Swagga Like Us‘ of 2009. I give you Drizzy Drake, Lil Weezy Wee, Kanyeezy and Em. Fresh off the More Than A GameSoundtrack, Forever.

**Bonus**

For those paying close attention to the last verse, aside from Eminem sounding like he might be back to his old form, you may’ve also noticed 4 characters that’ve been frequenting the HHHT blog for the past little while standing behind him. Yes, that was Slaughterhouse and yes, rumor has it they’re slated to be the next artists on Shady Records. Now I have no idea whether or not this is actually going to go through, but with a machine like Shady/Aftermath behind these four extremely talented spitters, it may mark the beginning of a new era in the mainstream game. A ‘return to form’ so to speak. Anyway, here’s a brand new tune from former Aftermath signee, and the best Latino role model since Big Pun…

Toronto-based artists LEO37 + Sunclef have been busy boys. First separately touring Canada and the States as a part of the WPBE and Zaki Ibrahim‘s crew respectively, then uniting to conquer a 15-date Canadian tour with fellow PPF Housemates, MAGNOLIUS. All self-booked and self-produced, their inaugural run has been so great that, to show their appreciation for the love they’ve received, PPF House has decided to officially release their new single for FREE.

Click below to see the promo vid and click under that for preview and DL.

Why? We’ll get to that in a second, but first, let me rattle off a few goodies for you.

45

I don’t really know anything about this dude.

From what I’ve been able to gather, he’s a producer from Japan who sometimes goes by Swing-O. He has a new record coming out called ‘Revenge of Soul’ on Japanese imprint ‘Origami Records’ and he’s been featured on more than 100 Japanese albums as a producer, composer and/or pianist.

This track I’m givin you isn’t mindblowing but dammit if it isn’t endearing as hell. He even went and got himself Stephanie McKay which is never a bad look. Lemme know what you think.

Nipsey Hussle is gettin plenty of acclaim. Dr. Dre seems to be showing up everywhere again. The Game hasn’t opened his mouth in a while. And dammit if Kurupt & Quik getting together doesn’t just make incredible sense.

This tune isn’t as crazy as 9x outta 10, but it’s classic West Coast Funk through and through. Just check the title.

Shan Vincent de Paul and Derek DaCosta, better known as MAGNOLIUS, are preparing to release their sophomore set ‘MARY MUSTH’ this fall and will be headed out on tour with fellow PPF HousematesLEO37 and Sunclef on a Canadian tour spanning over 20 dates coast to coast this summer. With an impressive touring resume completely without label support that have seen them hit 11 countries, these guys have subtly positioned themselves in a unique niche within the hip-hop realm and show no signs of slowing.

Sorry that its been a long time but sometimes life gets in the way of blogging. The crew’s been grinding hard and we’re seeing the fruits of our labors now.

Marcus A just launched Waakao! a new information portal for Taiwan. Picking up where +886 left off, this will be the new site to check for information about Taiwan.

Leo37 just launched PPF House and they’re in the process of planning a cross Canada tour to support the releases they have from their roster for this year. Check it out. Click pic for info.

There’s also your’s truly running some Soul Food on Fridays at PS Underground from 8-1030pm. Come through during dinner time and hear some good music. Also the lasagna is absolutely amazing. Im a big lasagna fan and I’ve been disappointed on more than one occasion with the pithy filth they’ve tried to pander off as lasagna at other restaurants. The lasagna at PS is spot on good. Proper layers of meat, cheese and pasta, as lasagna should be made. The music is decent on Fridays from 8-1030pm too.

PS Underground is located at:

B1, #37, Lane 187, Dunhua South road (Donchu area) 敦化南路187巷37號B1(東區)

The party you all know and love is about to hit 10 events. We got something special in store for HHHT9 & 10. Stay tuned. More info to come real soon.

Nike is opening a gallery space called 6453 in Taipei City on April 8th. Mick ‘The Commissioner’ Boogie will be blessing the opening space party and the after party which is going to be held at Primo. You also may see a couple members of the HHHT squad making a special appearance at the gallery opening party.

Click the pic for a link to the facebook event page.

I gave you guys a heads up on 88Keys a couple months back. Seems that his album ‘The Death of Adam’ is doing pretty well and he’s released the video for the track ‘Stay Up.(Viagra)’ featuring the man of the moment Kanye West.

Click the pic for a link to the video. Can’t embed, sorry. Check Kanye and 88 running around in old man make up with a couple porn stars.

And as promised…after a bout of Food poisoning, a residual migraine and an evening of cold sweats, I proudly present Part 1 of Joey ‘CRACK’ Russo’s:HHHT6!

As you can tell from this first set of photos, the evening was nutty. A big shout out and thanks to Light Lounge and everyone who came and showed their love for the HHHT Conglomerate. Even though the numbers are diminished, rest assured, the parties will continue to be demolished and daughters all over the island will be in jeopardy of finding Love in a Club.

And well….since it’s Ladies Night, how bout a couple o’ treats…

Y’know B.O.M.B.’s coming out soon cause Busta’s dropping tracks every week. Here’s another potential single for the man. This time he brought his boys T.I.P. and Akon wit’em.

Busta Rhymes Feat. T.I. & Akon – Number One (click flick)

And one from a potential star in the making…Amanda Diva. Although she briefly acted as Natalie Stewarts‘ replacement in Floetry, most of you probably first heard her on Q-Tip‘s latest single, Manwomanboogie. Well, I just snaked this new tune from her in case you were wonderin what her solo stuff sounded like.